Good Luck Gold & MORE
Janet Wong
October 2021, 99 p.,
ISBN 978-1-937057-76-3
Good Luck Gold & MORE is a collection of 42 poems first published in 1994 and deftly complemented with new thought-provoking reflections of each of the poem’s “story behind the story” or the “story after the story.” Just as the intertwinings of life itself, Janet Wong’s poems range from whimsical, humorous, and tender to powerful, poignant, and stark — a celebration of familial bonds and traditional culture as well as a raw reminder of xenophobic ghosts of the past and those suffering today’s wave of anti-Asian racism.
Through lyrical rhythm, rhyme, and clever wordplay, Wong paints a picture of her heritage and family traditions. She invites readers to reflect on similarities in their own lives, subtly promoting shared humanity. For example, in the poem, “Jade,” Wong asks, “Do you have any good luck charms?” The poem focuses on the tender exchange between Wong and her grandfather. He explains that wearing jade will protect him from breaking his “very crispy” bones. The reflection explains Asian cultural beliefs about different types of jade and prompts children to consider what “good luck” objects they cling to, showing readers there are similarities in our differences.
At the same time, Wong explores the somber stereotypes, bullying, and microaggressions many Asian Americans face. Through the reflection for “Math,” Wong invokes the model minority myth. She explains that her school teacher moved her into an advanced math program and then wondered why she didn’t do well. She invites readers to think about a time when they were stereotyped or the target of wrong assumptions and how they felt in the moment.
For “All Mixed Up”, the poem centers around the word “multiculturalism” but spotlights microaggressions. As a child, Wong questions why her teacher loves using the word and why she is the object of the word.
Does she call me
Multicultural
because my skin is dark?
While readers are asked to think about new words to describe “multicultural” today, like “Asian American,” they are also advised that there are many different Asians. Even though many Asians use chopsticks, there are variations of chopsticks for each ethnic group. In Wong’s reflections of “Chopsticks and Tea,” we are further reminded that not all use chopsticks, and some prefer forks too.
Furthermore, Wong explores racism and violence through poems about racial slurs and xenophobic aggression, linking the past to the present. One of the most poignant, “Waiting at the Railroad Cafe,” describes when Wong and her father were on vacation waiting to be served in a railroad cafe but were ignored and even shouted at by drunk customers.
“Consider this part of your education,”
Dad says. I wonder how long we’ll be ignored, like hungry ghosts
of Chinese men who laid this track,
never making their journeys back
but leaving milestones and signposts to follow.
“Why do they treat us so wrong?”
Wong encourages readers to consider the everyday heroes who endure and stand up to racism peacefully, listen to others tell their stories, and even write about these stories in the hopes they will not be ignored or forgotten.
Although written nearly 30 years ago, the poems in Good Luck Gold & MORE are just as relevant today. Janet Wong’s poetry presents topics about love, family, and culture while including the painful truths in times of weakness, loss, and death. It is a chronicle of the myriad of life’s moments, including stereotypes, microaggressions, and racism. The poems will help children reflect on our shared humanity, and help students grapple with anti-Asian racism. While aimed primarily at upper elementary to middle school, it can be appreciated by readers of all ages. Readers, particularly APALA members and their communities, will not only benefit from reading the book personally or in group discussions, but all proceeds will go toward #StopAsianHate bystander training, a worthy cause in our troubled times.
Written by Lynn Lawrence-Brown, editing assistance by Danica Ronquillo